I got only a quick look at a butterfly in the garden the other day but
it appeared to be a dullish brown with a purple sheen to the upper
parts of its wings, when open. It was about the size of a Red
Admiral, I'd think. It's been suggested it was a Purple Hairstreak.
Anyone any other ideas? The attempted photo was appalling!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-08-07 10:35:08 +0100, Malcolm said:

In article , Sacha
writes
I got only a quick look at a butterfly in the garden the other day but
it appeared to be a dullish brown with a purple sheen to the upper
parts of its wings, when open. It was about the size of a Red
Admiral, I'd think. It's been suggested it was a Purple Hairstreak.
Anyone any other ideas? The attempted photo was appalling!

The description is OK, but Purple Hairstreaks are almost exactly half
the size of Red Admirals, 30-40mm wingspan compared with 65-75mm.

Well, I've already commented on my own ability to judge sizes but I'd
have thought this was the same size. Is there anything else that you
could thing might fit that description?

Purple Hairstreaks are also *very* rarely seen away from oak trees, but
you may of course have some of those. They certainly occur pretty
widely in south-west England.

There are a few oaks in the garden and in the one nearest to us but
that's across the churchyard and the school yard. I also saw a brown
butterfly with quite bright spots on its wings, lots of them but as it
was above my head and very restless, I couldn't get it very clearly.
And while I'm pestering you - sorry! - there was a moth in our bedroom
a few nights ago which was really tiny. The depth of the body was very
narrow and it appeared to be white speckled with black. Its wings were
spread out straight rather than folded against the body. Again, because
the ceiling is high and it was so small, I couldn't get a very clear
view of it. I've looked on web sites but can't see it. I do appreciate
your help!


--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Sacha wrote:
I got only a quick look at a butterfly in the garden the other day but
it appeared to be a dullish brown with a purple sheen to the upper
parts of its wings, when open. It was about the size of a Red
Admiral, I'd think. It's been suggested it was a Purple Hairstreak.
Anyone any other ideas? The attempted photo was appalling!

From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

--
Chris Green
·

On 2013-08-07 11:37:04 +0100, said:

Sacha wrote:
I got only a quick look at a butterfly in the garden the other day but
it appeared to be a dullish brown with a purple sheen to the upper
parts of its wings, when open. It was about the size of a Red
Admiral, I'd think. It's been suggested it was a Purple Hairstreak.
Anyone any other ideas? The attempted photo was appalling!

From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

I think so. It seems that this year we have not just loads
ofbutterflies but some we haven't seen before. Perhaps we've just been
unobservant but I really do think we seem to have more variety this
summer.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

The only thing that is wrong is the area of the country, as it tends not to be found further west than Hampshire. UK Butterflies - Purple Emperor - Apatura iris

Have a look through http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what catches your fancy.

On 2013-08-07 16:02:31 +0100, Malcolm said:

In article , Sacha
writes
On 2013-08-07 10:35:08 +0100, Malcolm said:

In article , Sacha
writes
I got only a quick look at a butterfly in the garden the other day but
it appeared to be a dullish brown with a purple sheen to the upper
parts of its wings, when open. It was about the size of a Red
Admiral, I'd think. It's been suggested it was a Purple Hairstreak.
Anyone any other ideas? The attempted photo was appalling!
The description is OK, but Purple Hairstreaks are almost exactly half
the size of Red Admirals, 30-40mm wingspan compared with 65-75mm.

Well, I've already commented on my own ability to judge sizes but I'd
have thought this was the same size. Is there anything else that you
could thing might fit that description?

No.

Purple Hairstreaks are also *very* rarely seen away from oak trees, but
you may of course have some of those. They certainly occur pretty
widely in south-west England.

There are a few oaks in the garden and in the one nearest to us but
that's across the churchyard and the school yard. I also saw a brown
butterfly with quite bright spots on its wings, lots of them but as it
was above my head and very restless, I couldn't get it very clearly.

Could be a Speckled Wood

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/speci...pecies=aegeria

And while I'm pestering you - sorry! - there was a moth in our bedroom
a few nights ago which was really tiny. The depth of the body was very
narrow and it appeared to be white speckled with black. Its wings were
spread out straight rather than folded against the body. Again, because
the ceiling is high and it was so small, I couldn't get a very clear
view of it. I've looked on web sites but can't see it. I do appreciate
your help!

I'm backing out of this one until you invest in a step-ladder!

You may well laugh! I went to get one and the wretched moth had gone!

There are a group of small moths called pugs which sit with their wings
straight out, but they difficult enough to identify even when you have
caught one and have it alongside the book.

There are also a group called micro-moths which are mostly very small
and many equally difficult to identify.

I'll have a hunt around in those groups, thank you.


--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-08-07 14:39:07 +0000, echinosum said:

;989363 Wrote:
From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor
male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

The only thing that is wrong is the area of the country, as it tends not
to be found further west than Hampshire. 'UK Butterflies - Purple
Emperor - Apatura iris' (http://tinyurl.com/l72on8j)

Have a look through http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what catches
your fancy.

Nothing else seems to match the description. I went out today, hoping
to see it again but that didn't happen. I'll try again tomorrow, if
the weather holds. The forecast isn't great.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

It's not that PE is never seen in S Devon, there are a handful of sighting records there, it's just that its so rare there that we look for another explanation first. I usually go for the trope that if there are two explanations, one involving something very rare and one involving something reasonably common, it is close to certain to be the the latter. Thus the person who was strongly asserting they had seen a golden oriole out of season and in the wrong place was eventually persuaded it was a green woodpecker. But if you look under Camberwell Beauty it says "rare migrant", but I've seen Camberwell Beauty a couple of times; after all there's really no mistaking it. It's been a funny year for butterflies, the obligate early breeders suffered badly, but others have thrived.

On 08/08/2013 19:27, sacha wrote:
On 2013-08-07 14:39:07 +0000, echinosum said:

;989363 Wrote:
From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor
male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

The only thing that is wrong is the area of the country, as it tends not
to be found further west than Hampshire. 'UK Butterflies - Purple
Emperor - Apatura iris' (http://tinyurl.com/l72on8j)

Have a look through http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what catches
your fancy.

Nothing else seems to match the description. I went out today, hoping to
see it again but that didn't happen. I'll try again tomorrow, if the
weather holds. The forecast isn't great.



I feel quite honoured to have seen two or three Jersey Tiger Moths in
the garden this week. I don't think they're rare, but usually have a
much more southern distribution.

Apart from the usual whites (not to be sneezed at these days), we have
quite a few gatekeepers in the garden, too.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

On 2013-08-09 13:13:27 +0100, Spider said:

On 08/08/2013 19:27, sacha wrote:
On 2013-08-07 14:39:07 +0000, echinosum said:

;989363 Wrote:
From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor
male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

The only thing that is wrong is the area of the country, as it tends not
to be found further west than Hampshire. 'UK Butterflies - Purple
Emperor - Apatura iris' (http://tinyurl.com/l72on8j)

Have a look through http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what catches
your fancy.

Nothing else seems to match the description. I went out today, hoping to
see it again but that didn't happen. I'll try again tomorrow, if the
weather holds. The forecast isn't great.



I feel quite honoured to have seen two or three Jersey Tiger Moths in
the garden this week. I don't think they're rare, but usually have a
much more southern distribution.

Apart from the usual whites (not to be sneezed at these days), we have
quite a few gatekeepers in the garden, too.

I caught an extremely fleeting glimpse of a butterfly yesterday with
wings of such a pale beige that it looked almost like a sliver of
tortoiseshell with the light shining through it. It flitted past me so
quickly I had no chance to register much more! At this rate, I'll soon
be seen leaping around the garden with a fishing net!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-08-09 11:53:25 +0100, echinosum said:

sacha;989412 Wrote:

Nothing else seems to match the description. I went out today, hoping
to see it again but that didn't happen. I'll try again tomorrow, if
the weather holds. The forecast isn't great.
--
Sacha
'Buy plants online, including rare and popular plant varieties from Hill
House Nursery, mail order plant specialist'
(http://www.hillhousenursery.com)
South Devon
It's not that PE is never seen in S Devon, there are a handful of
sighting records there, it's just that its so rare there that we look
for another explanation first. I usually go for the trope that if there
are two explanations, one involving something very rare and one
involving something reasonably common, it is close to certain to be the
the latter. Thus the person who was strongly asserting they had seen a
golden oriole out of season and in the wrong place was eventually
persuaded it was a green woodpecker. But if you look under Camberwell
Beauty it says "rare migrant", but I've seen Camberwell Beauty a couple
of times; after all there's really no mistaking it. It's been a funny
year for butterflies, the obligate early breeders suffered badly, but
others have thrived.

It wasn't Purple Emperor as it didn't have those white markings on the
wings. But what did cross my mind today is that while butterfly
observing round here, we should probably be aware that Buckfastleigh
Butterfly Farm is just minutes away by road, so even fewer minutes by
butterfly. I suppose we might, one day, see the odd escapee! That
Camberwell Beauty is simply gorgeous but that I've certainly never seen.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 09/08/2013 15:01, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-08-09 13:13:27 +0100, Spider said:

On 08/08/2013 19:27, sacha wrote:
On 2013-08-07 14:39:07 +0000, echinosum said:

;989363 Wrote:
From the size and the sheen I'd guess that it was a Purple Emperor
male,
it's the right time of year and it does frequent oak trees.

The only thing that is wrong is the area of the country, as it tends
not
to be found further west than Hampshire. 'UK Butterflies - Purple
Emperor - Apatura iris' (http://tinyurl.com/l72on8j)

Have a look through http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what catches
your fancy.

Nothing else seems to match the description. I went out today, hoping to
see it again but that didn't happen. I'll try again tomorrow, if the
weather holds. The forecast isn't great.



I feel quite honoured to have seen two or three Jersey Tiger Moths in
the garden this week. I don't think they're rare, but usually have a
much more southern distribution.

Apart from the usual whites (not to be sneezed at these days), we have
quite a few gatekeepers in the garden, too.

I caught an extremely fleeting glimpse of a butterfly yesterday with
wings of such a pale beige that it looked almost like a sliver of
tortoiseshell with the light shining through it. It flitted past me so
quickly I had no chance to register much more! At this rate, I'll soon
be seen leaping around the garden with a fishing net!




I know what you mean. An afternoon's planned gardening soon becomes a
butterfly/moth photographing and id-ing exercise. I haven't wafted a
net around yet, but I did save a Jersey Tiger Moth from a huge spider's
web. That's dedication, that is! :~)

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

On 2013-08-09 18:44:29 +0100, Spider said:

On 09/08/2013 15:01, Sacha wrote:
snip

I caught an extremely fleeting glimpse of a butterfly yesterday with
wings of such a pale beige that it looked almost like a sliver of
tortoiseshell with the light shining through it. It flitted past me so
quickly I had no chance to register much more! At this rate, I'll soon
be seen leaping around the garden with a fishing net!

I know what you mean. An afternoon's planned gardening soon becomes a
butterfly/moth photographing and id-ing exercise. I haven't wafted a
net around yet, but I did save a Jersey Tiger Moth from a huge spider's
web. That's dedication, that is! :~)

I'd called that selfless! ;-)
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-08-10 08:11:26 +0100, Malcolm said:

In article , Sacha
writes
On 2013-08-09 18:44:29 +0100, Spider said:

On 09/08/2013 15:01, Sacha wrote:
snip
I caught an extremely fleeting glimpse of a butterfly yesterday with
wings of such a pale beige that it looked almost like a sliver of
tortoiseshell with the light shining through it. It flitted past me so
quickly I had no chance to register much more! At this rate, I'll soon
be seen leaping around the garden with a fishing net!
I know what you mean. An afternoon's planned gardening soon becomes a
butterfly/moth photographing and id-ing exercise. I haven't wafted a
net around yet, but I did save a Jersey Tiger Moth from a huge spider's
web. That's dedication, that is! :~)

I'd called that selfless! ;-)

I call it cruelty to the spider, depriving it of a meal :-)

Shudder! I rescued a bumble bee from a spider recently and I'm afraid I
couldn't summon up any sympathy for the spider, which was trying to
wrap its threads round the frantic bee.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 10/08/2013 08:11, Malcolm wrote:

In article , Sacha
writes
On 2013-08-09 18:44:29 +0100, Spider said:

On 09/08/2013 15:01, Sacha wrote:
snip
I caught an extremely fleeting glimpse of a butterfly yesterday with
wings of such a pale beige that it looked almost like a sliver of
tortoiseshell with the light shining through it. It flitted past me so
quickly I had no chance to register much more! At this rate, I'll soon
be seen leaping around the garden with a fishing net!
I know what you mean. An afternoon's planned gardening soon becomes a
butterfly/moth photographing and id-ing exercise. I haven't wafted a
net around yet, but I did save a Jersey Tiger Moth from a huge
spider's web. That's dedication, that is! :~)

I'd called that selfless! ;-)

I call it cruelty to the spider, depriving it of a meal :-)





It already had quite a few hits on its website. This is one spider that
won't starve!

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay